One of the early calls that Vladimir Putin took following his expected victory in the Russian presidential election last weekend was from Pakistan Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani. He congratulated Putin on his success and invited him to visit Islamabad in September which the Russian leader accepted, according to newspaper reports citing an official statement.

It would be the first visit by a Russian head of state to Pakistan which stood on the other side of the Cold War, peaking in its emergence as the staging ground for the U.S. campaign to defeat the Soviet Unions occupation of Afghanistan. Its now again the frontline state in Americas war against Islamist militants in Afghanistan, but it is a far more conflicted partner than those days of war against the godless communists. So fraught and uncertain is the nature of the relationship with the United States that Pakistan has sought to deepen ties with long-time ally China, but also Russia, the other great power in a dangerously unstable neighbourhood.

There is nothing for Russia to be gained from Pakistan. Even with India buying more weapons from US, Europe and Israel, the total volume of weapons brought from Russia runs into 10s of billions of dollars. More then anytime during the peak of Indo-Soviet alliance during cold war. Pakistan has brought nothing from Russia except a few Mi-17 helicopter. And then there is Indian investment in Russian oil and gas, Shaklin II and Russia building nuclear reactors in India and supplying nuclear fuel.

The major focus of the visit was to improve bilateral relations with particular emphasis on ways and means to enhance economic cooperation between the two countries.Russia wants to set energy deals with Pakistan.The Russians want to invest $500 million on the CASA-1000 electric transmission line to supply Pakistan with the Central Asian power from Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan.
With deterioration of Islamabads ties with Washington, Moscow is seeking a closer relationship with Indias arch-rival with the blessing of China

Highly doubt there are any plans for the Russian “Pacific Fleet” to build a base in Pakistan on “Indian Ocean”. Russia’s two biggest threats are NATO in the west and China in the east. Russia has no strategic interest on the Indian Ocean.

$500 million investment is peanuts. And Pakistan is hardly a huge energy market. India is an energy mega-market. Pakistan already had oil and gas pipeline from Iran. If India is a big huge pie, Pakistan is a breadcrumb. Russian military industrial complex will die overnight if India stops investing or importing from Russia.

A Russian base in Pakistan would make for a nice Tom Clancy novel but its a total nonsensical scenario. The Russian navy of today is FAR smaller today then the heydays of the Soviet Navy. China already has a proxy naval base in Gwadar, Pakistan. Thirdly Russia has much easier access to Persian gulf via Iran (over Caspian sea). To get to Pakistan, Russia has to cross at least 2 central Asian republics plus Afghanistan the most volatile part of the world.

Lastly only fools build bases in Pakistan. US has already learnt that and China is about to learn that.....

Russian military industrial complex will die overnight if India stops investing or importing from Russia.

Russia has bolstered its position in Latin America's arms market in recent years. State-controlled arms exporter Rosobornoexport, which accounts for 85 percent of Russia's weapons sales, says Latin America is its third largest market. And company officials say they are working to expand their business in Latin America.

Central Asia,Iran,Syria? You made me laugh. You think a few SAM batteries, Katyusha rockets, RPGs and Igla missiles sold to the Hezbollah is the same as multi-billion dollar defense contracts with India?

How could Russian Military Industrial Complex die out? India was a launch customer for the Su-30s. The single largest defense contract in the late 90s with over 272 total purchased. The Indian contract later on helped win several more customers in Indonesia, Malaysia, Vietnam, Algeria, Venezuela. Indian money helped maturation of the Su-30MKI model and to an extent also funded the further development of Su-34, and Su-35s. Indian money is currently helping the development of the PakFa 5 gen fighter. Indian money helped Migs and Sukhoi survive financial bankruptcy through the bad years 90s and early 2000 via several large scale modernization and upgrade program of India's Mig 21s, 27s, 29s not to mention the large contract and development of naval Mig-29K, Mig 29SMT. When was the last time the Mig won a major export contract?

And then the big and small contracts of Mi-17 helicopters, Kamovs, IL-78s refuellers, AWACs and upgrade of Tu-146 and IL-38s, medium transport jet over a couple thousand T-90 tanks and T-72 upgrades.

Even Russian ship building industry has been surviving entirely on Indian money with Admiral Gorshkov deal, Krivak class stealth frigates, Nerpa/Akula subs.....

Does Iran or Syria buy aircraft carriers or nuclear subs?

And “collorabration “(sic) with China? What “collorabration “? China, all they did was buy a few Russian fighters and copy them and they are now export competitors of Russia.

The Russians can easily make up that money. One of the reasons why they are sticking by Syria is because lost a $4 billion dollar contract with Libya.The Syrians are retrofitting their naval base at Tartus.

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